God values humility – openness and honesty. He knows the depths of our hearts, so there is no use trying to hide our feelings from him. Sometimes – like this time – you just need to lay it all out on the table, and allow his truth to answer every question and restore your faith in the midst of every fear.

Dear God,

I’m sad.

My heart is breaking from the loss of my mother, and sadness seems to be overtaking me. It’s affecting my well-being, my motivation, and my hope, and it’s really starting to scare me. I know your joy is readily accessible but I can’t seem to find it, and even when I do, it slips through my fingers too quickly. Dear God, I’m sad – when will it go away?

Ecclesiastes 3:1 – There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under the heavens:

a time to be born and a time to die,

a time to plant and a time to uproot,

a time to kill and a time to heal,

a time to tear down and a time to build,

a time to weep and a time to laugh,

a time to mourn and a time to dance,

a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,

a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

a time to search and a time to give up,

a time to keep and a time to throw away,

a time to tear and a time to mend,

a time to be silent and a time to speak,

a time to love and a time to hate,

a time for war and a time for peace.

Though sorrow may last for the night – or even for a season – joy will come.

Why are bad things happening?

I’m trying to do the right things, the righteous things, what scripture says. But it seems no matter what I do, my life falls apart faster and harder than ever before. I know life isn’t fair, and your justice will reign over all in the end, but you also say you will bless your children with good things. If that’s true, dear God, why are bad things happening?

Isaiah 30:18 – Yet the LORD longs to be gracious to you; therefore he will rise up to show you compassion. For the LORD is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him!

Justice is inevitable in the kingdom of God.

It comes out of his gracious character. Your patient waiting will reveal his blessing.

Where are you?

I feel so alone, like you are no where to be found. I don’t hear you, I can’t feel you, and my eyes are blind to your hand on my life. I reach out to you, wanting to surrender my plans and allow you to move in my life, but I feel my attempt reaches a hallow end. You say you never leave us, but dear God, where are you?

Deuteronomy 31:8 – The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.

Though we might not always feel him, he promises to always be in our midst – this is our hope, our encouragement, our strength.

I’m getting tired.

I’m getting tired of staying hopeful when I have every reason to be hopeless. I’m getting tired of holding on, my hands are slipping and my grip is weak. God, I’m tired of feeling bad, when I know you have good things in store for me, and the hardest part is I know the truth of your faithfulness, but I don’t feel it. Dear God, I’m getting tired of being sad, of wondering where you are in the midst of all these hard things.

Matthew 11:28-30 – “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”

What a beautiful, passionate, loving invitation we have from Jesus.

Though sleep may revive our physical bodies, he is the only one who can give rest to the depths of our tired souls.

This supernatural rest revives our spiritual, mental, and emotional well-being. His presence is the answer to all of our sadness, our wondering, our questioning, and our need for hope – for him.